Meditations - EquityZen's Blog On Startups and Their Economicshttps://equityzen.com/blog/Meditations - EquityZen's Blog On Startups and Their Economicsen-usEquity CompensationPrivate Company SharesEmployee CompensationStartupsInvestingDreamIt VenturesGeneral AssemblyCopyright (c) 2018 EquityZen Inc. All rights reserved.Wed, 14 Mar 2018 22:33:00 -0400SEC Charges Theranos With Fraud: Initial Thoughtshttps://equityzen.com/blog/theranos-fraud/<p>The SEC announced today that it has charged Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes (founder and CEO), and Sunny Balwani (former President) with what it is calling a "massive" fraud. This story is still developing, but it is an important one. We've been watching this story since it was announced that the SEC was investigating Theranos. We share some preliminary thoughts on this monumental decision.</p>shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 14 Mar 2018 22:20:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/theranos-fraud/TheranosElizabeth HolmesfraudSECtheranos rulingblood company$700M fraudinvestor fraudstartup fraudtheranos fraudtheranos founder fraudFrom College to FinTech — Landing Your Dream FinTech Jobhttps://equityzen.com/blog/landing-your-dream-fintech-job/<p>Interested in a career in FinTech? Looking to be on the front line of emerging technologies right in the heart of New York City? Think you know other folks who may fit this description as well? Check out our open positions on our <a href="https://equityzen.com/careers/">EquityZen Careers</a> page now!</p>asa.lieberman@equityzen.com (Asa Lieberman)Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:03:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/landing-your-dream-fintech-job/collegefintechrecruitingtechfuturecollege studentsnext stepinterviewinglife planningcareerThe Dangers of the P/S Multiplehttps://equityzen.com/blog/startup-multiples/<p>When we talk about startup valuations, we typically speak in term of P/S (price-to-sales) multiples. Why? For starters, many of them have not yet reached profitability, so valuing them off of earnings is impossible. Second, we often have very limited financial information for private companies, which makes more intricate valuation methodologies difficult. Finally, multiples turn a complex topic like corporate valuation into a seemingly simple equation.</p>catherine.klinchuch@equityzen.com (Catherine Klinchuch)Thu, 15 Feb 2018 16:00:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/startup-multiples/financial multiplesprice-to-salesstartup financedcfsfinance 101financial analysistechnical analysiscomparable analysisfinancial compsventure capital multiplesYear in Review — A Letter from the CEOhttps://equityzen.com/blog/2017-year-in-review/<p>2018 is off to a strong start for us and our clients, joining together in helping EquityZen bring private markets to the public.&nbsp;As 2017 turns into a memory, I want to take this moment to share moments of excitement and learning for the EquityZen team.</p>atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 01 Feb 2018 15:46:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/2017-year-in-review/year in review2017 recapEquityZenAtish DavdaCEOgrowthDraper Associatesrevenue goalsacquisition growthfintechstartupsSoftBank: A Blessing or a Curse for Investors?https://equityzen.com/blog/softbank-vision-fund/<p>Japanese telecoms giant SoftBank has undoubtedly made a huge impact on the global technology landscape with multiple $1B+ investments in industry leading private tech firms over the last few years. SoftBank continues to make bold, and public, bets on the future of technology, but whether this large influx of capital is positive for private companies and their investors in the long-run remains to be seen. In this note we discuss some of the possible effects SoftBank is having on technology markets from an investor perspective.</p>chukwuma.okpalugo@equityzen.com (Chuk Okpalugo)Thu, 25 Jan 2018 15:30:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/softbank-vision-fund/softbankvision funduberwagsofiflipkartvaluationsventure capitalventure fundWeWorkSlackIPOThe Trend Is Your Friend: 8 Lucky Consumer Investing Trends in 2018https://equityzen.com/blog/2018-consumer-investing-trends/<p>Counting on ancient wisdom in lucky numbers, we curate eight consumer trends private investors might find refreshing and profitable. In researching this list, sectors we thought would boom were cooling off and those we weren&rsquo;t watching closely, surprised, and delighted us. Here&rsquo;s what I'm keeping my eye out for in 2018:</p>Kartik RamThu, 04 Jan 2018 15:30:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/2018-consumer-investing-trends/2018consumer trendsEazeglampinge-bikespodcastsconscious brandscannabis techHonest Companyelectric vehiclesAmazonFrom College to FinTech — Why I Chose to Forgo a Large Finance Firm to Enter Techhttps://equityzen.com/blog/college-to-fintech/<p>We take a break today from investor research and tax bills to reach out to the real MVPs of December: the college students who pushed and persevered through finals only to come out on the other side and fall headfirst into resume dumps and interviews. We've been there. This is for you.</p>asa.lieberman@equityzen.com (Asa Lieberman)Thu, 28 Dec 2017 16:00:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/college-to-fintech/collegefintechrecruitingtechfuturecollege studentsnext stepinterviewinglife planningcareerRetail 2.0: Digital Native Brands Take on Traditionhttps://equityzen.com/blog/digital-native-brands-retail/<p>Consumers have more choices in affordable luxury than the standard fare that malls and boutiques serve up. Today, the world&rsquo;s leading retailers are all online. The long-tail playbook has won. But the fastest-growing digital brands aren&rsquo;t following it. Most such companies focus on selling only a handful of different products, and many started out with just one.&nbsp;<a href="https://equityzen.com/company/casper/" data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank">Casper</a>&nbsp;began by selling the single, killer product, namely, the &ldquo;perfect bed.&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://equityzen.com/company/bonobos/" data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank">Bonobos</a>&nbsp;started with a single pair of men&rsquo;s pants. Allbirds made its mark with a distinct wool pair of minimalist shoes. This new generation of disruptive brands is not only a consumer phenomenon but also threatening to shake up retail.</p>Kartik RamThu, 21 Dec 2017 10:32:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/digital-native-brands-retail/retaildigital native brandswarby parkercasperallbirdsbonobosecommerceamazonluxury brandsclothes retailEquityZen's 2018 IPO Outlookhttps://equityzen.com/blog/ipo-outlook-2018/<p>The past year capped yet another relatively subdued year for tech IPOs, with activity still well below 2013/2014 levels despite favorable market conditions. In our view, the underlying reasons for the ongoing public offering torpor remain consistent with prior years: an abundance of capital (and high valuations) in private markets, the high costs of becoming&mdash;and remaining&mdash;a public company, analyst scrutiny, and an increase in liquidity alternatives. We believe these factors may continue to weigh on IPO volume in the year ahead.</p>catherine.klinchuch@equityzen.com (Catherine Klinchuch)Thu, 07 Dec 2017 15:56:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/ipo-outlook-2018/ipos2018 ipoairbnbdocusignlyftnew iposThank You From EquityZenhttps://equityzen.com/blog/happy-thanksgiving-equityzen-2017/<p>As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, we wanted to continue our annual EquityZen tradition and reflect on a few things that we are thankful for this year. Thanksgiving snuck up on a lot of us this year and it's hard to believe that 2017 is quickly coming to a close.</p>ketan.bhalla@equityzen.com (Ketan Bhalla)Thu, 23 Nov 2017 01:00:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/happy-thanksgiving-equityzen-2017/ThanksgivingEquityZenSilicon Valley Unites to Preserve Equity Compensationhttps://equityzen.com/blog/silicon-valley-unites/<p>It was fast and furious, but in the end the US Senate ultimately came around. The Senate's version of the tax bill to implement sweeping changes and cuts to the tax code included a provision that would have taxed stock options and&nbsp;RSUs&nbsp;upon vesting. This would have been disastrous for the startup community, which relies heavily on equity awards to compensate employees. The startup community quickly rallied to inundate local Senators with opposition to this provision, and late Tuesday night, November 14, 2017, the Senate relented and struck that provision. We break down why this matters and how it was resolved.</p>shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 16 Nov 2017 10:16:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/silicon-valley-unites/silicon valleytax planequity compensationsenategop tax billstartup compensationArtificial Intelligence Startups: The Key to Real Returns in the Modern Economy?https://equityzen.com/blog/ai-sector-report/<p>Given AI&rsquo;s broad applicability, the potential impact of the technology is staggering, with two prominent consultancy firms pegging the eventual economic contribution at ~$14-16T. In this report, we will examine the artificial intelligence industry as a whole, as well as the major players and trends.&nbsp;For a detailed analysis of the industry and the major players in this sector, please download the report here:&nbsp;<a href="https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/media/tinymce_uploads/EquityZen_AI_Sector_Report.pdf" target="_blank">EquityZen Artificial Intelligence Sector Report</a></p>catherine.klinchuch@equityzen.com (Catherine Klinchuch)Thu, 09 Nov 2017 15:35:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/ai-sector-report/Artificial IntelligenceAIMachine LearningNeural NetworksAI startupsvicarioussentient technologiesAyasdiCore AIOpen SourceDataThe EquityZen Seller Video Series — Part Ihttps://equityzen.com/blog/shareholder-video-part-one/<p>Shareholder behold!&nbsp;This week we're proud to bring you a short video wherein we show you how EquityZen smoothens the once-convoluted process of getting liquidity for your private shares. We understand how daunting the process of selling your equity may seem, but we're here to demystify that concept and help you navigate these tricky waters.</p>richard.stratford@equityzen.com (Richard Stratford)Thu, 19 Oct 2017 15:25:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/shareholder-video-part-one/shareholdersell your equityequity compensationliquidityseller processSome Thoughts on Open Source Software in the Public Marketshttps://equityzen.com/blog/opensourcesoftware/<p>Public market investors like to see [fill in the blank]. We could put many adjectives here. Very few seem to correspond with the adjectives often used to describe open source software (OSS) companies. With several of these vendors gearing up for IPO, including MongoDB (filed S-1) and MapR (<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2017/09/05/big-data-startup-mapr-raises-56m-moves-closer-to-ipo/#32e3fd467a6a">reported</a>), we often get asked how OSS models fare in public markets. The challenge in answering this question is that it's somewhat unclear.&nbsp;</p>catherine.klinchuch@equityzen.com (Catherine Klinchuch)Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:20:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/opensourcesoftware/open sourcesoftwaremongodbredhatnetworksopen source codepublic marketssector reportSome Thoughts Regarding ForeScout's S-1https://equityzen.com/blog/forescout-s1/<p>ForeScout filed an S-1 earlier this week, marking its first step towards completing an IPO. ForeScout expects to list on the NASDAQ under the ticker &ldquo;FSCT&rdquo;. The S-1 was (long) expected as the company had reportedly filed confidentially early this year.</p>catherine.klinchuch@equityzen.com (Catherine Klinchuch)Thu, 05 Oct 2017 16:05:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/forescout-s1/forescoutforescouttechnologiessoftwaresaasipos-1 filingCybersecurity Startups: Hacking into a Growing Market Opportunityhttps://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-cybersecurity-sector-report/<p>As the world grows increasingly digitized, from cryptocurrencies to the interconnectivity of social media platforms, it has never been more important to protect your data. In the wake of the catastrophic Equifax data breach, cybersecurity has become of the utmost concern for every day citizens. The cybersecurity market has grown to $120B, underpinned by an increase in the frequency and severity of cybercrime over recent years. As cyber threats have increased, though, legacy technology has become increasingly less effective at mitigating them.&nbsp;For a detailed analysis of the industry and the major players in this sector, please download the report here: <a href="https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/media/tinymce_uploads/EZ_Cybersecurity_Report.pdf">EquityZen Cybersecurity Sector Report</a>.</p>catherine.klinchuch@equityzen.com (Catherine Klinchuch)Thu, 14 Sep 2017 15:51:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-cybersecurity-sector-report/CybersecurityHackingBlack HatForescout TechnologiesZscalerCylanceData BreachEquifaxSoftwareAIQuantum EncryptionWhat did the Redfin IPO Mean for EquityZen Clients?https://equityzen.com/blog/what-redfin-ipo-meant-for-equityzen-clients/<p>The last two years have proven to be a huge turning point for the music industry as internet streaming has meaningfully reversed the 15-year decline in industry revenues brought about by the internet piracy age at the turn of the century. In this post, an excerpt of our industry overview report, we&rsquo;ll briefly discuss the industry growth trends.&nbsp;For a detailed analysis of the industry&rsquo;s history and the business performance of the key players, please download the report, EquityZen Industry Overview: Music Streaming, here.</p>chukwuma.okpalugo@equityzen.com (Chuk Okpalugo)Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:00:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/what-redfin-ipo-meant-for-equityzen-clients/RedfinRDFNRedfin IPOIPO ReturnsEquityZen ReturnsStreaming: The Savior of the Music Industry?https://equityzen.com/blog/streaming-savior-of-music-industry/<p>The last two years have proven to be a huge turning point for the music industry as internet streaming has meaningfully reversed the 15-year decline in industry revenues brought about by the internet piracy age at the turn of the century. In this post, an excerpt of our industry overview report, we&rsquo;ll briefly discuss the industry growth trends.&nbsp;For a detailed analysis of the industry&rsquo;s history and the business performance of the key players, please download the report, EquityZen Industry Overview: Music Streaming, <a href="https://dioguwdgf472v.cloudfront.net/media/tinymce_uploads/EquityZen_Industry_Overview_Music_Streaming_vF.pdf">here</a>.</p>chukwuma.okpalugo@equityzen.com (Chuk Okpalugo)Thu, 03 Aug 2017 15:00:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/streaming-savior-of-music-industry/SpotifyApple MusicPandoraMusic StreamingSpotify Direct ListingSpotify vs Apple MusicMusic IndustryRedfin: Path to IPOhttps://equityzen.com/blog/redfin-path-to-ipo/<p>Redfin, the Seattle-based real estate brokerage aiming to reshape the industry, recently priced its upcoming IPO between $12 - $14 per share. At this valuation, Redfin would become the latest tech unicorn on the public market. As the company heads towards its public listing, one big question lingers for investors: Should Redfin be valued as a real estate brokerage or as a tech company?</p>charles.joyce@equityzen.com (Charlie Joyce)Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:04:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/redfin-path-to-ipo/IPORedfinInvestorStartupsVenture capitalPrivate equityShare priceValuationSEC Expands Confidential Filing to All IPOshttps://equityzen.com/blog/sec-expands-confidential-filing-to-all-ipos/<p>Starting July 10, 2017, all companies seeking an IPO, whether or not they qualify as emerging growth companies (&ldquo;EGCs&rdquo;), will be permitted to file their draft IPO registration statements confidentially. This is an important development, as it may lead to more IPOs and is a signal of tone shift at the SEC towards capital formation.</p>shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 06 Jul 2017 12:03:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/sec-expands-confidential-filing-to-all-ipos/InvestorIPOStartupsVenture CapitalTech IPO “Down Rounds”: EquityZen Runs the Numbers with Jeremy Abelson and Irving Investorshttps://equityzen.com/blog/ipo-down-rounds-with-irving-investors/<p>The <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2017/04/28/cloudera-shares-jump-in-ipo-but-is-it-a-win/#70e339b178c8" data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank">recent Cloudera IPO</a> has re-ignited a discussion about down rounds. How could a private company <em>possibly</em> be valued at $30.92 per share in 2014, and then go public at $15? What could lead to such a corporate phenomenon? Do the valuation techniques of VC firms and Wall Street <em>really</em> differ by such a margin?</p>phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 25 May 2017 00:01:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/ipo-down-rounds-with-irving-investors/IPOClouderaDown roundNot So Obvious: Here's What To Know Between NSO and ISO Stock Optionshttps://equityzen.com/blog/heres-what-to-know-between-nso-and-iso-stock-options/<p>The world of startup stock options can be pretty opaque. To outsiders, its seems all one does is join a small company, and, if it works, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2072204/Facebook-IPO-create-1-000-millionaires-companys-rank-file.html" target="_blank">everyone becomes millionaires</a>. For new employees, they often don&rsquo;t know what <a href="https://www.inc.com/atish-davda/5-questions-you-should-ask-before-taking-a-start-up-job-offer.html" target="_blank">they don&rsquo;t know</a> and are faced with piles of new <a href="https://equityzen.com/blog/key-equity-documents-to-keep-on-file/" target="_blank">documents</a> and <a href="https://equityzen.com/blog/demystifying-the-option-agreement/" target="_blank">more questions</a> once they join their budding business. Core to our mission is to help educate employees, companies, and their founders about their <a href="https://equityzen.com/blog/rights-of-employees-as-shareholders/" target="_blank">stock options</a> and what they can do <a href="https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-know-about-selling-you-shares/" target="_blank">with their resulting shares</a>.</p>nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Thu, 18 May 2017 14:22:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/heres-what-to-know-between-nso-and-iso-stock-options/EmployeeEquityStock OptionQ&A with Troy Paredes: How the SEC Regulates Silicon Valley (Part 2)https://equityzen.com/blog/q-and-a-troy-paredes-sec-silicon-valley-part-2/<p>The change in administrations at the White House has multifold ramifications for startups. Important among those areas is the Securities and Exchange Commission&rsquo;s (&ldquo;SEC&rdquo;) posture towards Silicon Valley and how that agenda may shift under incoming Chair Jay Clayton. We&rsquo;ve tapped friend of EquityZen, and former Commissioner at the SEC, Troy A. Paredes to shed some light.</p>shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 13 Apr 2017 12:51:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/q-and-a-troy-paredes-sec-silicon-valley-part-2/InvestorRegulationSECFintechLegalQ&A with Troy Paredes: How the SEC Regulates Silicon Valley (Part 1)https://equityzen.com/blog/q-and-a-troy-paredes-sec-silicon-valley/<p>The change in administrations at the White House has multifold ramifications for startups. Important among those areas is the Securities and Exchange Commission&rsquo;s (&ldquo;SEC&rdquo;) posture towards Silicon Valley and how that agenda may shift under incoming Chair Jay Clayton. We&rsquo;ve tapped friend of EquityZen, and former Commissioner at the SEC, Troy A. Paredes to shed some light.</p>shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:49:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/q-and-a-troy-paredes-sec-silicon-valley/SECRegulationInvestorLegalFinTech Outlook: Five Developing Issues to Watch in 2017https://equityzen.com/blog/fintech-outlook-five-issues-2017/<p>FinTech investment, innovation, and media attention has grown steadily in recent years, and do not look to abate any time soon. &nbsp;We&rsquo;ve tapped friend of EquityZen, and FinTech lawyer, Lee A. Schneider, to opine on FinTech regulatory trends to watch in 2017.</p>Lee SchneiderThu, 26 Jan 2017 14:21:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/fintech-outlook-five-issues-2017/InvestorFintechRegulationTrump's Nominee for SEC Chief: Implications for Startups and Fintechhttps://equityzen.com/blog/trump-nominee-sec-chief-fintech-startup/<p>On January 4, 2017, President-Elect Donald Trump nominated Jay Clayton, a private sector Wall Street lawyer, to serve as the next Chairman of the SEC. While the confirmation hearings will tell us a lot about Mr. Clayton&rsquo;s background, qualifications, and leanings, I can&rsquo;t wait that long and preview here what the SEC&rsquo;s agenda may look like in his tenure</p>shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 19 Jan 2017 11:52:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/trump-nominee-sec-chief-fintech-startup/SECRegulatoryTrumpFintechStartupDemystifying the Option Agreementhttps://equityzen.com/blog/demystifying-the-option-agreement/<p>Your Stock Option Agreement. If you work at a startup, you&rsquo;ve probably got one. It lays out what you can and can&rsquo;t do with your <a href="https://equityzen.com/glossary/?term=Stock%20Option">stock options</a>, which happens to be a very important component of your compensation. But do you understand how an Option Agreement really works? Luckily, EquityZen is here to help.</p>abad.mian@equityzen.com (Abad Mian)Thu, 12 Jan 2017 20:27:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/demystifying-the-option-agreement/Option AgreementStock Option AgreementISONSOIncentive Stock OptionNon-Statutory Stock OptionExercise NoticeRight of First RefusalROFRInitial Public OfferingIPOEquity CompensationExercise NoticeStock Option Exercise NoticeShareholder AgreementShareholders AgreementShareholder's AgreementExercise PriceStock Option NoticeNotice of Stock OptionStock OptionsStock OptionsLiquidityExitLegal OpinionTransfer FeeHow to Hedge Against Private Company Valuationshttps://equityzen.com/blog/hedging-against-private-company-valuations/<p><strong>"How can I hedge against private company valuations?"</strong></p>
<p><strong>"Can I short pre-IPO shares?"</strong></p>
<p><strong>"How do I lock my shares&rsquo; current price?"</strong></p>
<p>I often get variations of these questions. The answer is "no" &ndash; but, I usually point out other ways to enhance the private market portfolio. I thought EquityZen&rsquo;s client base might find them interesting, so below are some ideas.</p>atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 05 Jan 2017 12:18:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/hedging-against-private-company-valuations/InvestorShareholderSecondary MarketInvesting StrategyTech IPOs and Trumphttps://equityzen.com/blog/tech-ipos-and-trump/<p>This election has not been short of surprises, and the stock market is no exception. With the Dow and S&amp;P 500 reaching record highs on Wednesday, it seems the market has recovered from the uncertainty we had just one month ago. That said, the President-elect doesn't step into the White House for another month and a half. It's to be determined if we see another shift after January 20th once the the rubber hits the pavement.</p>
<p>Until then, Trump has shared (some of) his plan as president, and as he appoints his administration, the market will adjust. Based on what we know, we expect the impact to be a mixed bag for tech companies and their IPO plans during the Trump presidency.&nbsp;</p>nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Thu, 08 Dec 2016 11:52:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/tech-ipos-and-trump/IPOTrumpTech IPOElectionHappy Thanksgiving from EquityZenhttps://equityzen.com/blog/happy-thanksgiving-equityzen-2016/<p>Happy Thanksgiving from the team at EquityZen!</p>ketan.bhalla@equityzen.com (Ketan Bhalla)Thu, 24 Nov 2016 01:05:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/happy-thanksgiving-equityzen-2016/CompanyEquityZenFlat is the new up. Or you can fire a bunch of people (it's just way less cool.)https://equityzen.com/blog/flat-is-the-new-up-or-you-can-fire-people/<p>Kudos to Postmates. <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/10/31/postmates-valuation/?utm_source=equityzen&amp;utm_campaign=blogemail&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank">Raising a $140M</a> round in a crowded space (food delivery) right now is no easy task. Even at a flat price to last year's valuation, I still applaud CEO Bastian Lehmann's ability to get fresh capital (<a href="http://foundersfund.com/?utm_source=equityzen&amp;utm_campaign=blogemail&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank">from a returning VC investor</a>, no less) in the current fundraising environment.</p>phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 10 Nov 2016 11:10:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/flat-is-the-new-up-or-you-can-fire-people/EntrepreneurshipStartupTechnologyVenture CapitalFundraisingDollar Shave Club, Jet.com, and Nutanix: Paths to Exithttps://equityzen.com/blog/dsc-jet-nutanix-paths-to-exit/<p>We recently published three new infographics regarding the exits of Dollar Shave Club (acquired by Unilever), Jet (acquired by Walmart), and Nutanix (recently set the terms and price for their IPO). &nbsp; Take a look to see what these events mean for the major investors of the company - you might be surprised by some of the outcomes. &nbsp;</p>ketan.bhalla@equityzen.com (Ketan Bhalla)Thu, 22 Sep 2016 16:52:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/dsc-jet-nutanix-paths-to-exit/Path to IPOPath to AcquisitionEquityZenIPOInfographicAnnouncing EquityZen 2.0https://equityzen.com/blog/announcing-equityzen-2/<p>The team at EquityZen has been hard at work over the past few months working on a slew of product features and improvements to further bolster the customer experience for all of our clients. &nbsp;These features have ranged from small improvements to major product releases. We are excited to highlight some of the most impactful changes here. &nbsp;</p>ketan.bhalla@equityzen.com (Ketan Bhalla)Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:41:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/announcing-equityzen-2/EquityZenProductFeatureSix Months Later: The Pre-IPO Investment Opportunity in an Up Markethttps://equityzen.com/blog/pre-ipo-investment-opportunity-up-market/<p>Key Takeaways:</p>
<p>&bull; Pre-IPO investments can be a core part of the growth equity allocation of your portfolio in all market environments<br />&bull; Recent indicators support the case for considering adding pre-IPO investments today following the upward movement of public equity markets over the past six months</p>
<p>You wouldn't have predicted this six months ago.</p>kaylock.yam@equityzen.com (Kaylock Yam)Thu, 01 Sep 2016 10:52:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/pre-ipo-investment-opportunity-up-market/InvestorSecondary MarketPlanning Your Own Funeral: Why FinTech Firms Must Prepare for the Worsthttps://equityzen.com/blog/why-fintech-firms-must-have-contingency-plans-in-place/<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">As humans, we are programmed to &ldquo;hope for the best but plan for the worst,&rdquo; a philosophy that is often evident in actions we take throughout our lives. Working professionals, even those with healthy incomes, set up savings accounts to create a financial safeguard against loss of employment. Midwestern families build underground shelters to protect their families from tornadoes. Parents purchase cars with built-in airbags, so that their children are protected in case the unthinkable happens. We plan for the worst not to buy a license to act recklessly, but rather to take care of those who depend on us during extreme times. It is just as important for companies to take similar measures to protect against unfortunate, yet entirely conceivable disasters. This planning is especially crucial for startups.As Forbes has kindly reminded its readers, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilpatel/2015/01/16/90-of-startups-will-fail-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-10/#217784d155e1">90% of startups fail</a>. One of its advised conditions for creating a successful startup: design a product that is &ldquo;perfect for the market&rdquo;. Certainly no easy task. What happens in the end if a product isn&rsquo;t quite&hellip;perfect? What happens if that 90% becomes 100%? All of a sudden, customers who had depended on the company&rsquo;s services would be left without a safety net.</div>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>sean.troy@equityzen.com (Sean Troy)Wed, 10 Aug 2016 20:00:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/why-fintech-firms-must-have-contingency-plans-in-place/FintechContingencyInsolvencyStartupBankruptBackupEquityZenNirvanixZirtualPrivate MarketMarketplaceSecondaryPre-IPOQ&A: Serengeti of Private Markets with Ben Narasin of Canvas Ventureshttps://equityzen.com/blog/q-a-ben-narasin-canvas-ventures/<div>EquityZen is continuing its Q&amp;A series with Ben Narasin of <a href="http://www.canvas.vc/team/">Canvas Ventures</a>. You can catch the previous edition covering the <a href="https://equityzen.com/blog/q-a-dave-mcclure-state-of-private-markets/">state of private markets at the end of Q1 of this year with 500Startups&rsquo; Dave McClure</a>. Here at EquityZen, we closely follow private markets and help shed light on opportunities available at various points of the market cycle. You can follow us on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/equityzen">@EquityZen</a> for more real time updates.&nbsp;</div>
<p><font face="inherit" data-blogger-escaped-style="font-family: inherit;">Ben is a seasoned entrepreneur and prolific early stage investor. He took one of his earlier ventures public in 1999, and since has focused on identifying and investing in early stage companies both, as an angel as well as an institutional investor, first with Triple Point Ventures and now as General Partner at Canvas Ventures.&nbsp;</font>Public and private equity markets in technology and digital healthcare have enjoyed a strong bull run over the past several years. However, with virtually no IPOs in the first half of 2016, they have been seemingly getting stuck in what seems like a limbo over the past six months. So, I spoke with Ben towards the end of June to discuss private markets, specifically the venture capital and growth equity kind, and asked him to help lift the fog, and share ways to find opportunities amidst the haze. A synopsis of our discussion follows.</p>atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 21 Jul 2016 11:35:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/q-a-ben-narasin-canvas-ventures/Venture CapitalSecondary MarketStartupsInvestorWhy Alternatives Should Be Part of Your Investment Portfoliohttps://equityzen.com/blog/alternatives-part-of-investment-portfolio/<p>When individuals think of their investment portfolio, they tend to think of more traditional asset classes: fixed income (bonds) and equities (stocks). &nbsp; Historically, individual investors have not had easy access to alternative asset classes, such as hedge funds, real estate, private equity or venture capital. &nbsp;However, with the emergence of online investment platforms and the rapid advancement in the fintech industry, many alternative asset classes are now available to accredited investors at manageable minimums, allowing them to further diversify and potentially enhance their investment portfolio. &nbsp;The next obvious question is: why invest in alternative asset classes in the first place?</p>ketan.bhalla@equityzen.com (Ketan Bhalla)Thu, 07 Jul 2016 11:23:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/alternatives-part-of-investment-portfolio/AlternativesInvestmentsPre-IPOPortfolioSelling in Private Secondary Marketshttps://equityzen.com/blog/selling-in-private-secondary-markets/
Public market investors diversify their holdings for down-side protection or to rebalance their portfolio. By buying and selling certain assets, investors can maintain their desired level of asset allocation and effectively manage their risk exposure. These are not only common, but encouraged, diversification tools in public markets. Yet, in private markets, the selling of private company securities is often stigmatized. Why the disconnect?sean.troy@equityzen.com (Sean Troy)Thu, 19 May 2016 09:29:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/selling-in-private-secondary-markets/Secondary MarketInvestorShareholderPre-IPOEquityZen Wins at the Fintech Innovation Awardshttps://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-wins-at-fintech-innovation-awards/<p>It is my pleasure to announce EquityZen as the 2016 recipient of the global Innovation in Wealth, Asset and Investment Management award at FinTech Innovation Awards held in London on April 13, 2016! There was an extensive list of companies, culled worldwide, considered and nominated for the award. We are proud to be among such innovative and impressive companies.</p>Danielle SandlerWed, 04 May 2016 16:58:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-wins-at-fintech-innovation-awards/FintechAwardStartupSecondary MarketQ&A: Dave McClure of 500 Startups on the State of Private Marketshttps://equityzen.com/blog/q-a-dave-mcclure-state-of-private-markets/Looking back at the first quarter of 2016, the public equity markets have been defined by a fair amount of volatility, and have followed a “V” shape, ending the quarter close to the levels at which is started. At the same time, mid-stage private technology companies are focusing on “revenue and profitability” instead of just “growth and capital raising”. Amidst all of the reasonable caution, there is opportunity. In order to investigate these recent market trends, and in order to try and understand what may lie ahead, EquityZen is starting a series of interviews with informed professionals in the private, venture-backed industry.atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Wed, 20 Apr 2016 16:45:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/q-a-dave-mcclure-state-of-private-markets/InvestorStartupsSecondary MarketIPOPre-IPOValuationProfiling the Average Tech Company at IPOhttps://equityzen.com/blog/profiling-the-average-tech-company-at-ipo/Since our last analysis in July 2015, we revisit what the average company looks like at IPO.alex.wang@equityzen.com (Alex Wang)Wed, 13 Apr 2016 17:26:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/profiling-the-average-tech-company-at-ipo/InvestorShareholderStartupsSecondary MarketUnicornsIPOSEC Voices Concern about "Eye-Popping" Startup Valuationshttps://equityzen.com/blog/sec-speech-startup-valuations/Consider it an early warning, or maybe a gentle reminder from your friendly securities regulator. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Chair Mary Jo White came to the heart of Silicon Valley to deliver a speech at Stanford University’s Rock Center for Corporate Governance on March 31, 2016, which touched on a variety of topics but was rather forthright in addressing startup valuations. Management and boards at late stage, or pre-IPO, companies are on notice that the SEC is paying attention to the late stage financing arena, and should look internally to ensure that corporate governance and financial controls are befitting their scale, and should also ensure the accuracy of the disclosures they make when raising funds.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:50:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/sec-speech-startup-valuations/LegalSECInvestorFounderShareholderVenture CapitalEquityZen in a Nutshell: A letter from our CEOhttps://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-nutshell-letter-ceo/In the past week, there has been some chatter in the media about shareholders and investors who are supposedly transacting on EquityZen’s platform. In order to provide additional context to the discourse, I thought I’d clarify some details about our platform.atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Wed, 23 Mar 2016 13:10:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-nutshell-letter-ceo/CompanyEquityZenSecondary MarketCloud Services: Toughing the Winter Out?https://equityzen.com/blog/cloud-services-toughing-the-winter-out/There has been much discussion around the currently unfavorable venture market conditions. As thoroughly discussed in our previous post, “A Down Market: When Liquidity Matters”, both public and private tech markets have been going through a tough time in recent months. Cloud services usually have relatively high scalability, high margins, and stable income streams. Traditionally, institutional investors are highly interested in this sector. In fact, venture capitalists indicated highest confidence in cloud services as shown in the 2015 Global Venture Capital Confidence Survey.
alex.wang@equityzen.com (Alex Wang)Thu, 10 Mar 2016 09:31:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/cloud-services-toughing-the-winter-out/InvestorCloudVenture CapitalPre-IPOFrom Finance to Tech: How to Pitch Yourself When Switching Careershttps://equityzen.com/blog/from-finance-to-tech/There’s a changing of the guard in New York. The financial and professional upside of a career in banking, sales and trading, or most other roles in institutional finance has diminished in light of the Financial Crisis of ’08. Smaller bonuses. Increased regulation. Less risk appetite. Did I mention smaller bonuses?phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 03 Mar 2016 12:58:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/from-finance-to-tech/CareerEmployeeStartupA Down Market: When Liquidity Mattershttps://equityzen.com/blog/down-market-when-liquidity-matters/We've read throughout tech, mainstream, and social media about how we've hit "peak VC" and that the halcyon days of the Unicorn are coming to an end. Plenty of ink has been spilled on this topic, so I'll instead focus on how employees and early investors in startups should think about liquidity in a down market.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:22:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/down-market-when-liquidity-matters/InvestorShareholderStartupsSecondary MarketUnicornsIPOThe Pre-IPO Investment Opportunity in a Down Markethttps://equityzen.com/blog/pre-ipo-investment-opportunity-down-market/<p>Investing in a down market is tricky &ndash; not necessarily because it is fundamentally more difficult than investing in an up market, but because, in many ways, making long investments after a correction goes against our human nature. Even novice investors know the mantra, &ldquo;Buy low, sell high&rdquo;, but where do you put your money without feeling the fear if the market goes down again the next day, week, or month? In this post, we discuss the opportunity presented by private company investments in a down market.</p>alex.wang@equityzen.com (Alex Wang)Thu, 18 Feb 2016 20:18:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/pre-ipo-investment-opportunity-down-market/InvestorSecondary MarketMajor Tax Break for Startup Founders, Employees, and Investors Made Permanenthttps://equityzen.com/blog/qsbs-tax-break/A lot of great legislation has been pushed forward over the years in startup-landia. Some recently include the JOBS Act, Reg A+, and Congress' decision to widen the net on the definition of an accredited investor. All of these help to increase capital formation, promote long term investing and building new businesses. Most recently this year, buried in the nearly 900 page Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, a new feature was made permanent in the Tax Code that has a deep impact on entrepreneurs, shareholders, and investors of private companies. It's Section 1202 of the Tax Code and deals with Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS), and it could give you a 100% tax break on an specific investment. So, what do you need to know about QSBS?nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:49:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/qsbs-tax-break/InvestorShareholderSecondary MarketTaxStartupsShareholder's Playbook: What to Know About Selling Your Shareshttps://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-know-about-selling-you-shares/So you’re working at the pre-IPO company of your dreams….but you need some immediate liquidity. You’ve heard of platforms like EquityZen that help private company shareholders get liquidity for their shares, and you want to understand more about how the process works. Then this is the blog post for you!sharmila.achari@equityzen.com (Sharmila Achari)Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:51:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-know-about-selling-you-shares/ShareholderEmployeeSellEquityLiquidityInvesting in Alternatives Through Your Self-Directed IRAhttps://equityzen.com/blog/investing-in-alternatives-through-your-self-directed-ira/EquityZen has accepted investments through self-directed IRAs for some time, announcing our first partnership with Entrust in July 2014. The reason for accepting these types of investments and promoting them for our users is simple; IRAs are retirement accounts with tax incentives, and investors might as well benefit from those tax incentives for investment purposes. It is interesting to note that some of the world’s wealthiest have used IRAs to invest in all sorts of investments with major tax incentives. Mitt Romney at one point reportedly had $102,000,000 in his IRA account. Peter Thiel and Max Levchin, co-founders of PayPal, are reported to have used their Roth IRAs for many alternative investment purposes, shielding them from having to pay taxes on the profits of those investments as long as they stay in their IRAs until the age of 59 ½.nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:52:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/investing-in-alternatives-through-your-self-directed-ira/InvestorSecondary MarketProduct Bling: EquityZen's Fresh New Featureshttps://equityzen.com/blog/product-bling-equityzen-new-features/At EquityZen, we are constantly trying to improve the user experience for our clients. We’ve come a long way already and automated a lot of antiquated processes that previously defined private transactions, but we believe there are always opportunities to make the process even more seamless. Core to our mission is building a technology-driven investment platform that provides investors with the information they need as soon as possible and makes the investment process much more efficient.ketan.bhalla@equityzen.com (Ketan Bhalla)Thu, 21 Jan 2016 14:55:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/product-bling-equityzen-new-features/ProductFeatureUpdateTop 10 Startups to Work for in 2016https://equityzen.com/blog/top-ten-startups-to-work-for-2016/<p>Tech startups are among the hottest places to work, due to the easy going culture, growth potential, and talented environment. As these companies are staying private for longer, startups have grown into companies full of opportunities. For 2016, EquityZen has compiled a list of the top 10 tech startups to work for.</p>windy.feng.han@equityzen.com (Windy Feng Han)Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:08:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/top-ten-startups-to-work-for-2016/EmployeeShareholderStartupEquityZen: 2015 by the Numbershttps://equityzen.com/blog/2015-by-the-numbers/With 2015 officially in the rearview mirror, we wanted to take a few minutes to look back at what an amazing year it was for our company. Founded in June 2013, last year was our second full year in business and we are extremely proud of our growth and the overall activity on our platform. We thought it would be interesting and insightful to dig into the numbers on our platform to make some data-driven observations that may shed further light on a growing, and admittedly opaque, industry. Who's buying? What are they buying? And how much?nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:00:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/2015-by-the-numbers/EquityZenSecondary MarketInvestorShareholderOur Very Best of 2015https://equityzen.com/blog/best-of-2015/We have compiled our top content from 2015 and are sharing it, just in case you missed it previously or would like to review it with some additional perspective. Here are our five most popular pieces of content for 2015.windy.feng.han@equityzen.com (Windy Feng Han)Thu, 31 Dec 2015 09:53:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/best-of-2015/InvestorShareholderIPOSecondary MarketEmployeeWith RAISE Act, Congress Paves Way for Private Secondary Marketshttps://equityzen.com/blog/raise-act-private-secondary-markets/I recently wrote a guest article for TechCrunch on a legal development which will impact the growth of secondary markets for private shares. On December 4, 2015 President Obama signed into law the FAST Act, which is mainly about transportation funding. Included within the FAST Act is a section, the Reforming Access for Investments in Startup Enterprises (“RAISE”) Act, which codifies a previously unwritten means through which startup employees, ex-employees, early investors, and other shareholders have been legally allowed to sell their shares. The passing of the RAISE Act is a major step towards the development of orderly and deep secondary markets for private shares, as it will create more transparency around the process and its legality, and it will lend legitimacy to these markets. How this develops will impact all stakeholders—sellers of the shares, investors, the companies who issue the securities being bought and sold, and the service providers (full disclosure, I am a co-founder ofEquityZen, a platform that conducts secondary transactions in pre-IPO shares).shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 23 Dec 2015 15:42:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/raise-act-private-secondary-markets/LegalRegulatoryInvestorEmployeeSecondary MarketVenture CapitalUnicorns, Donkeys, and Late Stage Valuations - Are You Managing Your Portfolio Well? (Part 2)https://equityzen.com/blog/late-stage-valuations-unicorns-managing-your-portfolio-2/The tech market has gone straight up. Here are some strategies to manage your portfolio if it takes a turn.atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 17 Dec 2015 10:48:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/late-stage-valuations-unicorns-managing-your-portfolio-2/Late Stage ValuationPortfolio ManagementPortfolio BalancingAngel InvestingStartup ValuationUnicornAccel and Atlassian: Tech Monogamy at Its Besthttps://equityzen.com/blog/accel-atlassian-ipo-tech-monogamy/We explore Atlassian's funding history leading up to its IPO and how Accel become the sole Silicon Valley investor in the software company.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 10 Dec 2015 13:32:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/accel-atlassian-ipo-tech-monogamy/IPOInvestorAccelPath to IPOUnicorns, Donkeys, and Late Stage Valuations - Are You Managing Your Portfolio Well? (Part 1)https://equityzen.com/blog/late-stage-valuations-unicorns-managing-your-portfolio/The tech market has gone straight up. Here are some strategies to manage your portfolio if it takes a turn. Part 1atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 03 Dec 2015 14:12:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/late-stage-valuations-unicorns-managing-your-portfolio/Late Stage ValuationPortfolio ManagementPortfolio BalancingAngel InvestingStartup ValuationUnicorn3 Things EquityZen Is Thankful Forhttps://equityzen.com/blog/3-things-equityzen-is-thankful-for/As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States, we wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on 2015 and share three things we are thankful for here at EquityZen. It’s been an exciting year for us!ketan.bhalla@equityzen.com (Ketan Bhalla)Wed, 25 Nov 2015 10:50:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/3-things-equityzen-is-thankful-for/EquityZenCompanyThe Rights of Employees as Shareholders in a Startuphttps://equityzen.com/blog/rights-of-employees-as-shareholders/As with citizenship, in employment, it's important to understand your rights. In the startup world, employees have rights not only as employees, but also as shareholders, since they are typically paid in equity as well as cash. Further, much of an employee's net worth can be tied up in company stock, so it's all the more important to understand the rights that inhere to stock ownership. In this post, we discuss the general rights of employees as shareholders in the companies they work for.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 18 Nov 2015 19:44:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/rights-of-employees-as-shareholders/ShareholderEmployeeStartupLegalSquare's S-1: Of Ratchets and Unicorn Valuationshttps://equityzen.com/blog/square-s-1-ratchet-unicorn-valuations/I recently wrote an article for TechCrunch on Square's IPO filing, a (not so little) investment protection known as a ratchet, and larger implications for how to think about Unicorn valuations. We often read about tech companies raising increasingly larger rounds at increasingly lofty valuations. Square's IPO filing, which is publicly available, gives us a peek into the details around private fundraises and the protections VCs get in these deals.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 11 Nov 2015 16:31:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/square-s-1-ratchet-unicorn-valuations/InvestorSquareIPOUnicornRatchetValuationStartupVenture CapitalNASDAQ, SecondMarket, EquityZen, and Private Market Secondarieshttps://equityzen.com/blog/nasdaq-secondmarket-equityzen-private-markets/SecondMarket has built a great institution and led the first wave of secondary trades in private companies. Yet, the SecondMarket acquisition does not move the needle for the typical accredited investor. Their access to investing in later stage private companies is not improved at all. EquityZen is one of the only platforms that gets them a seat at the table to invest in mature private companies for as little as $20,000, and remains committed to democratizing access to this asset class. EquityZen remains focused on providing on-demand secondaries, further enhancing access and liquidity in the private markets. We are happy to see additional buy-in from leading a public market player like NASDAQ.atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:17:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/nasdaq-secondmarket-equityzen-private-markets/Private MarketSecondmarketNasdaqPre-IPOSecondary MarketPure Storage: The Path to IPO ($PSTG)https://equityzen.com/blog/pure-storage-path-to-ipo/Pure Storage, a flash-storage company backed by venture investors Sutter Hill, Greylock Partners, Index Ventures, and Tiger Global, started trading on the public markets yesterday. As we've done in the past, we took a look and visualized how pre-IPO investors did.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 08 Oct 2015 09:54:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/pure-storage-path-to-ipo/Path to IPOIPOInvestorVenture CapitalStartupAnnouncing EquityZen's Venture Capital Glossaryhttps://equityzen.com/blog/venture-capital-glossary/Burn rate. Right of First Refusal. Drag along. For anyone who is impacted by the venture capital and startup industry--founders, employees, investors--it's crucial to understand the lingo. Many of the terms thrown around are technical legalese or just plain old industry jargon. Either way, they matter. We have complied a robust glossary to help you navigate these terms as they come up in your professional journey.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 17 Sep 2015 09:57:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/venture-capital-glossary/GlossaryStartupVenture CapitalInvestorShareholderKnowledgePredicting the Pure Storage IPO with Datahttps://equityzen.com/blog/predicting-pure-storage-ipo-with-data/Pure Storage, a flash-storage company backed by venture investors Greylock, Index Ventures, and Tiger Global, filed its S-1 with the SEC on August 12th, 2015, indicating their plans for an Initial Public Offering (IPO). An S-1 filing is usually the first detailed glimpse into a company's financials, and is required before a company sells stock to the public and trades on a national stock exchange. We at EquityZen wanted to take a look at what the company's IPO might look like.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 03 Sep 2015 09:50:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/predicting-pure-storage-ipo-with-data/InvestorIPOPure StorageValuationOption Exercise Checklist for Foundershttps://equityzen.com/blog/option-exercise-checklist/So you've made the leap and founded a company. Awesome. You've incorporated and got your corporate starter kit in order (bylaws, stock plan, forms of equity docs, etc.). Sweet. Most importantly, you've convinced talented people to join you on this wild ride to build something amazing. Hearty congrats. Now it's been a year and your first hires, the ones who helped you ship your MVP and gain traction, are exercising their options. We recently experienced this at EquityZen, and while it's incredibly fulfilling to see your team members excited about exercising their options and owning their shares, it's also a bit daunting. Here's a checklist--based on our experience--to make sure you're covering your bases for the company and your employees.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:56:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/option-exercise-checklist/FounderStartupLegalEmployeeWhat To Research Before Investing In a Private Company: The Investment Risks (Part IV)https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-research-before-investing-4/This is the fourth and final installment in our series on making a private secondary investment (Parts I, II, and III are available here, here, and here). This week, we'll discuss Investment Risks.
As eager as you may be to pull the trigger and make secondary investments, we urge you to consider some of the risks of any investment. We'll cover them in detail below.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Mon, 24 Aug 2015 17:30:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-research-before-investing-4/InvestorCompanyEducationUnicorns, Dinosaurs & the Elephant in the Room - An Update on the Tech Animal Kingdomhttps://equityzen.com/blog/update-tech-animal-kingdom/Unicorns are the Kings of the new Jungle age and are being actively hunted [in this case by Venture Capitalists and not dentists]. In this post we’ll run through an update on the ‘Tech Animal Kingdom’ with new developments for Unicorns ($1Bn+ private companies), Dinosaurs (older public companies) and the Elephant in the room.vedant.suri@equityzen.com (Vedant Suri)Wed, 19 Aug 2015 16:31:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/update-tech-animal-kingdom/InvestorShareholderVenture CapitalFundraisingIPOWhat To Research Before Investing In a Private Company: The Investment Structure (Part III)https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-research-before-investing-3/This is the third installment in our series on making a private secondary investments (Part I is available here and Part II is available here). This week, we'll discuss Investment Structure.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:30:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-research-before-investing-3/InvestorCompanyEducationThe Week In Charts: 8.14.15https://equityzen.com/blog/week-in-charts-8-14-15/We curate the most interesting charts relating to venture, tech, startups, and other areas from the past week.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Fri, 14 Aug 2015 20:14:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/week-in-charts-8-14-15/StartupVenture CapitalTechInvestorBut When Will They Go Public? A Profile of the Average Company at IPOhttps://equityzen.com/blog/company-at-ipo/A company’s initial public offering is an exciting time for all parties involved; employees and founders bring their hard work to the public markets, financiers and investors unlock their years-long investments, and the curtain is finally lifted on the company’s detailed financials.russell.lange@equityzen.com (Russell Lange)Thu, 13 Aug 2015 19:09:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/company-at-ipo/InvestorIPOVenture CapitalShareholderWhat To Research Before Investing In a Private Company: The Current Investors (Part II)https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-research-before-investing-2/This is the second installment discussing what you should research before making a private secondary investment. This week, we'll talk about Current Investors.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Mon, 10 Aug 2015 17:30:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-research-before-investing-2/InvestorCompanyEducationThe Week in Chartshttps://equityzen.com/blog/the-week-in-charts/We've curated below a series of poignant charts from the last week.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 05 Aug 2015 18:36:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/the-week-in-charts/Venture FundingVenture CapitalInvestorWhat To Research Before Investing In a Private Company: Financials and Metrics (Part I)https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-research-before-investing-1/This will be the first installment in a series of educational pieces that discuss what you should research before making a private secondary investment. This week, we'll talk about Financials and Metrics.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:30:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/what-to-research-before-investing-1/InvestorCompanyEducationThe Holy Grail: Tracking Top Venture Capital Returnshttps://equityzen.com/blog/tracking-venture-capital-returns/Research firms like Cambridge Associates and Thomson Reuters regularly release benchmark statistics in the venture capital and private equity space which give us an indication of target returns, but what we really want are the numbers from specific venture capital funds to see who has that next Facebook. So here at EquityZen, we’ve been trying to figure out a way to identify and compare the returns of top performing venture capital funds – something we informally like to call the Holy Grail.vivian.guo@equityzen.com (Vivian Guo)Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:51:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/tracking-venture-capital-returns/Venture CapitalIRRVenture ReturnUnicornInvestorRevisiting the Vesting Schedulehttps://equityzen.com/blog/revisiting-the-vesting-schedule/Silicon Valley gave birth to (among many other things) the practice of granting employees equity as part of their compensation package. This practice began nearly fifty years ago with the spawn of companies like Hewlett-Packard. However, the terms of earning your equity over time have remained largely unchanged. Today we want to revisit the nearly universal “4 year vest with a 1 year cliff.” This common vesting schedule means that you earn your equity grant evenly over 4 years, except none of it is yours until you’ve passed your one year mark. A lot has changed in Silicon Valley and beyond over the years. Let’s take a look at why this vesting schedule exists, what’s changed, and how it has been impacted.nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Fri, 17 Jul 2015 10:10:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/revisiting-the-vesting-schedule/EquityVestingOptionsCompensationEmployeeIntroducing Our All New My Investments Pagehttps://equityzen.com/blog/my-investments-page/At EquityZen, we understand that transactions in the secondary market can be tedious at times. We are constantly trying to make that process simpler, faster, and more transparent. Recently we have updated the "My Investments" page, to give more clarity on the status of the deal, showcase key numbers related to this deal, and highlight any actions required on your part. Let's take a look.Zhi+An NgSun, 12 Jul 2015 14:18:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/my-investments-page/ProductFeatureInvestorBut What Does It Do? A Summary of 5 Disruptive Technology Companieshttps://equityzen.com/blog/-summary-of-five-disruptive-technology-companies/When a company disrupts a sector, it’s usually due to an innovative technology. But innovation often brings complexity, and therefore confusion, to a potential investor in that business. Here I attempt to offer up a top-level explanation of five “tech-heavy” companies and their core product, in layman’s terms.sterling.vitcov@equityzen.com (Sterling Vitcov)Wed, 24 Jun 2015 15:14:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/-summary-of-five-disruptive-technology-companies/InvestorStartupTechnologyFitbit: Path to IPO [Infographic]https://equityzen.com/blog/fitbit-path-to-ipo/In what has been a slow jog for technology IPOs in 2015, wearable fitness tracker Fitbit plans to sprint out of the gates with a $790 million offering. As we've made a habit of doing, EquityZen ran the numbers behind the company's success, and tracked the returns for Fitbit's early investors. A few venture capital investors stand to earn a healthy return on investment, as seen below:phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:09:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/fitbit-path-to-ipo/IPOWearableValuationPre-IPOEight Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Startup Job Offer (Part 2)https://equityzen.com/blog/questions-to-ask-before-accepting-startup-job-offer-part-2/Equity, as a component of total compensation, matters a lot at startups, so it's important to get it right. You should definitely have some notion of the future prospects of the company, as a lot of your compensation will be tied to its success (via stock). This determination is inherently subjective and nebulous. However, there are other tangible facts you can ascertain if you ask the right questions. Last week, we covered some basic distinctions between working at startups and corporations, and identified some important questions to ask when negotiating your compensation. We continue that list of must-ask questions below.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:51:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/questions-to-ask-before-accepting-startup-job-offer-part-2/StartupShareholderEmployeeEquityEight Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Startup Job Offer (Part 1)https://equityzen.com/blog/questions-to-ask-before-accepting-offer-part-1/Technology start-ups today offer exciting career opportunities. Below is the first half of a two-part guide to help you navigate the all-important equity package in your start-up job offer. atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 04 Jun 2015 16:14:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/questions-to-ask-before-accepting-offer-part-1/EmployeeShareholderStartupEquityJob OfferMary Meeker's Internet Trends Report 2015https://equityzen.com/blog/mary-meeker-internet-trends-report-2015/Former Wall Street tech stock analyst turned VC (at Kleiner Perkins) recently published Internet Trends - 2015, her annual observations on the internet and the things to get excited about coming down the pike.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Sat, 30 May 2015 16:14:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/mary-meeker-internet-trends-report-2015/Venture CapitalInvestingInvestorShopify: The Path to IPOhttps://equityzen.com/blog/shopify-path-to-ipo/Shopify, an online payments and commerce platform, concluded their IPO this morning and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange at a $1.26 billion valuation. From three founders operating out of Ottawa to 632 employees providing services on a global scale, Shopify has achieved extraordinary growth.russell.lange@equityzen.com (Russell Lange)Thu, 21 May 2015 18:55:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/shopify-path-to-ipo/Path to IPOInvestorVenture CapitalEquityZen's Guide to Investing in Pre-IPO Tech Companieshttps://equityzen.com/blog/guide-to-investing-in-pre-ipo-tech-companies/Are you new to secondary investing in private companies? It can be a daunting but ultimately rewarding asset class to invest in. We’ll cover a variety of topics to consider when investing.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Fri, 15 May 2015 12:24:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/guide-to-investing-in-pre-ipo-tech-companies/InvestorInvestingPre-IPOWhy Founder Lane Becker Was "Washed Out" of the Get Satisfaction Salehttps://equityzen.com/blog/lane-becker-get-satisfaction-sale-liquidation-preference/Lane Becker, co-founder of Get Satisfaction, a community building platform between companies and customers, made waves on Twitter a few weeks back when he reacted candidly to congratulatory tweets about Get Satisfaction's acquisition by Sprinklr. As you see from the tweet above, he didn't see any financial return on the deal. This despite the fact that Get Satisfaction had raised a $10 million Series B round from leading VCs at a $50 million valuation in 2011. Why did he get washed out?shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 30 Apr 2015 11:43:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/lane-becker-get-satisfaction-sale-liquidation-preference/Liquidation PreferenceAcquisitionVenture CapitalFounderEquityZen Covers PreMoney Miami: The Future of Venture Capitalhttps://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-covers-premoney-miami-future-of-venture-capital/Last month, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the sharpest minds in venture capital at PreMoney Miami organized by 500Startups . The atmosphere was abuzz – with facts, opinions, and everything in between – surrounding the future of venture capital.
VC and its rapid evolution is a topic EquityZen follows closely; not only are we venture/law/tech geeks, but also because thousands of accredited investors on our platform are curious of latest developments in the private technology market.atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:55:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-covers-premoney-miami-future-of-venture-capital/Investor500 StartupsVenture CapitalEtsy: The Path to IPO (Infographic)https://equityzen.com/blog/etsy-path-to-ipo/On April 16th, Etsy, the marketplace for eclectic retailers, will hit the public markets at a $1.8 billion valuation. So, how did it get there? We break down the early investors and how they did in the IPO.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Wed, 15 Apr 2015 20:47:56 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/etsy-path-to-ipo/EtsyPath to IPOVenture CapitalBubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble: A Collection of Bubble Commentaryhttps://equityzen.com/blog/collection-of-tech-bubble-commentary/There's been a lot of talk about a tech bubble. It started in earnest about a year ago, as public tech stocks (and the Nasdaq) took a hit, and Box's IPO went into purgatory. Since that time, the Nasdaq has recovered, private valuations have risen across stages, and, yes, Box went public. We thought it would be useful to have a single collection of all the major discussion pieces around the tech bubble in one place. So here you go...shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Mon, 13 Apr 2015 21:05:47 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/collection-of-tech-bubble-commentary/InvestorVenture CapitalBubbleTop 10 Private Tech Companies to Work Forhttps://equityzen.com/blog/top-10-private-tech-companies-to-work-for/<p>There&rsquo;s no question that we&rsquo;re now in the age of the billion-dollar tech startup. Unicorns like Airbnb and Uber are filling the ranks of companies reaching unprecedented valuations well north of a billion dollars. Aside from the in-house foosball tables and catered lunches, there&rsquo;s a lot to gain from working at these great &ldquo;startups.&rdquo; We at EquityZen have compiled a list of the top ten tech companies to work for, taking into consideration factors like company culture, growth, and market opportunity.</p>thi.ho@equityzen.com (Thi Ho)Thu, 09 Apr 2015 16:56:35 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/top-10-private-tech-companies-to-work-for/ShareholderEmployeeRegulatory Alert: Regulation A+ and What It Means For Startupshttps://equityzen.com/blog/regulation-a-plus-what-it-means-for-startups/The SEC voted yesterday to adopt final rules for amendments to Regulation A, referred to informally as Regulation A+, making relevant a capital raising tool that had long grown dusty on the shelf of deal structures. Think of Regulation A+ as "IPO Lite", allowing companies to raise up to $50 million with disclosure and ongoing reporting requirements that are less burdensome than a full-blown IPO. However, a Regulation A+ offering will require a bit more from the company than a Rule 506(b) private placement, the most common way for startups to raise money. So where will Regulation A+ fit into the landscape? We offer up some preliminary thoughts.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Fri, 27 Mar 2015 09:58:59 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/regulation-a-plus-what-it-means-for-startups/RegulationSECJOBS ActDifferences in Private and Public Investment: AppDynamics vs. New Relichttps://equityzen.com/blog/private-public-investment-difference-app-dynamics-new-relic/Accredited investors that are new to the startup and angel-investing world often ask "what's the difference in investing in a private company compared to buying public stock?" The short answer is, a lot. Items to consider include the following: Liquidity, Type of Stock, Available Information, Comparable Metrics, Opportunity Cost. To bring this analysis to life, I'll look at two rivaling startups, AppDynamics (private) and New Relic (public).phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:18:37 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/private-public-investment-difference-app-dynamics-new-relic/New RelicAppDynamicsInvestorVenture CapitalLyft: The Path to $2.5 Billion Unicornhttps://equityzen.com/blog/Lyft-The-Path-to-2-5-Billion-Unicorn/On the heels of Lyft's recent $530 million financing from Rakuten, we've put together the history of Lyft's fundraising and valuation. Uber's fast-growing competitor is now valued at $2.5 billion, which still puts it in the shadow of Uber (currently valued north of $40 billion), but perhaps offers its investors a nice value proposition? Nonetheless, a half-billion dollar war chest should help Lyft expand into other markets domestically and internationally.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 19 Mar 2015 09:56:14 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/Lyft-The-Path-to-2-5-Billion-Unicorn/LyftPath to IPOVenture CapitalConsiderations for Your Startup Equity Compensation (Part 2)https://equityzen.com/blog/considerations-for-your-startup-equity-compensation-part-2/<p>So we're stepping back to talk about how startups award equity and what you should consider when evaluating startup job opportunities. In Part 1, we looked at the major factors that affect your ownership stake, upside potential, and the riskiness of your equity compensation. Now we&rsquo;ll look at some numbers to demonstrate both how your equity package is determined and what it might be worth. So you&rsquo;ve received an offer from a startup (or are hoping for one) with a salary and some number of &ldquo;options&rdquo; for your equity grant. So from what hat did they pull that equity number?</p>nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Thu, 12 Mar 2015 10:33:54 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/considerations-for-your-startup-equity-compensation-part-2/Startup CompensationShareholderEmployeeConsiderations for Your Startup Equity Compensation (Part 1)https://equityzen.com/blog/considerations-for-your-startup-equity-compensation-part-1/Here at EquityZen, we talk a lot about startup compensation and the nuances of it all (ISOs Vs. NSOs Vs. RSUs? The AMT Tax?). However, I wanted to step back and provide a more general look at how startups award equity and what you should consider when looking at startup job opportunities. This will be broken into two parts, with the first talking generally about how equity compensation is divided among employees and the factors that weigh in. The second will give some numerical examples and guidelines for examining or anticipating your startup compensation based on those factors.nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Thu, 05 Mar 2015 09:55:11 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/considerations-for-your-startup-equity-compensation-part-1/Startup CompensationShareholderEmployeeEquityZen CEO Talks Pre-IPO Investing on Fox Business Newshttps://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-ceo-pre-ipo-investing-fox-business-news/EquityZen CEO Atish Davda discuss pre-IPO investing on Fox Business News. He discusses how EquityZen provides access to investments in tech companies before their IPO and the filters EquityZen applies to investment opportunities available on the platform.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 26 Feb 2015 10:11:31 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-ceo-pre-ipo-investing-fox-business-news/Fox Business NewsVenture CapitalEquityZenInvestorSecondary Markets Are Deeper Than Everhttps://equityzen.com/blog/secondary-pre-ipo-markets-deeper-than-ever/A discussion of the increasing depth in secondary markets for pre-IPO investments.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:51:54 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/secondary-pre-ipo-markets-deeper-than-ever/InvestorVenture CapitalSecondary MarketBox: The Path to IPOhttps://equityzen.com/blog/box-path-to-ipo/As we've previously done with Twitter and LendingClub, we've dug through the numbers to bring you Box's (shaky) path to IPO. Here is our breakdown of how the venture investors have done, as well as key executives (ahem, Aaron Levie) and directors.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 22 Jan 2015 20:28:15 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/box-path-to-ipo/BoxPath to IPOVenture CapitalWhy Venture Backed Companies Are Waiting Longer to Go Publichttps://equityzen.com/blog/why-venture-backed-companies-are-delaying-IPO/Originally published on Forbes, this post discusses by tech companies are delaying IPO shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Fri, 26 Dec 2014 08:42:29 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/why-venture-backed-companies-are-delaying-IPO/Venture CapitalSecondary MarketRegulationThink Angel Investing = Seed Investing? You're Missing Out.https://equityzen.com/blog/angel-investing-is-more-than-seed-investing/How to improve your venture portfolio with later stage companiesatish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Thu, 18 Dec 2014 12:33:16 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/angel-investing-is-more-than-seed-investing/InvestorSecondary MarketVenture CapitalAngel InvestorBreaking Down Friday's Big Data IPOs: Hortonworks and New Relichttps://equityzen.com/blog/hortonworks-hadoop-ipo-breakdown/Guest contributor Lior Ronen discusses the Hortonworks and New Relic IPOs, including that they have priced below their last venture valuations. shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Fri, 12 Dec 2014 10:38:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/hortonworks-hadoop-ipo-breakdown/Venture CapitalHortonworksNew RelicLearning from Fab and Aereo: Liquidity Mattershttps://equityzen.com/blog/learning-from-fab-and-aereo-liquidity-matters/Lessons startup employees and founders should learn from epic rise and fall of Fab and Aereo.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 10 Dec 2014 10:41:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/learning-from-fab-and-aereo-liquidity-matters/AereoFabVenture CapitalLendingClub: The Path to IPOhttps://equityzen.com/blog/lending-club-path-to-ipo/Infographic tracking LendingClub's IPO and the returns early investors made.phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Wed, 10 Dec 2014 10:40:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/lending-club-path-to-ipo/Lending ClubPath to IPOVenture CapitalYoung Startup Edition: Building an Incredible Founding Teamhttps://equityzen.com/blog/building-an-incredible-founding-team/Tips on building an incredible founding teamatish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Mon, 08 Dec 2014 10:42:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/building-an-incredible-founding-team/FounderYoung Startup EditionAnnouncing the Launch of My Investmentshttps://equityzen.com/blog/announcing-launch-of-my-investments/EquityZen launches My Investments making it easier for investors on our platform to track their deal progress from signing a term sheet to receiving final closing documents. adam.paschke@equityzen.com (Adam Paschke)Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:45:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/announcing-launch-of-my-investments/EquityZenHadoop and Crowd-based Lending: What We've Learned from Last Week's Tech IPOshttps://equityzen.com/blog/hadoop-p2p-lending-ipo/Dissecting the IPOs of Hadoop and Crowd-Based lending platformsphil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Mon, 17 Nov 2014 10:47:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/hadoop-p2p-lending-ipo/IPOVenture CapitalCrowdfundingBig DataYoung Startup Edition: 8 Hacks for Better Email Managementhttps://equityzen.com/blog/hacks-for-better-email-management/Tips for better email managementatish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Wed, 12 Nov 2014 10:49:00 -0500https://equityzen.com/blog/hacks-for-better-email-management/EmailYoung Startup EditionIs Buffer's Series A a Paradigm Shift in Fundraising?https://equityzen.com/blog/buffer-series-a/Dissecting Buffer's Series Ashriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:51:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/buffer-series-a/Venture CapitalBufferFundraisingWhat You Need to Know About Stock Options, Pay Packages, and What You're Really Getting Offeredhttps://equityzen.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-stock-options/Understanding equity compensation: stock options, pay packages etc.atish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Fri, 24 Oct 2014 10:53:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-stock-options/ShareholderStartup CompensationYoung Startup Edition: How Should You Split Equity Among Co-Founders?https://equityzen.com/blog/how-to-split-equity-among-founders/Tips on how to split equity among co-foundersatish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Mon, 29 Sep 2014 10:55:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/how-to-split-equity-among-founders/Young Startup EditionFounderStartup CompensationGeneral Solicitation One Year Onhttps://equityzen.com/blog/general-solicitation-one-year-anniversary/The practical implications of SEC lifting its 80-year old ban on general solicitation.shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 24 Sep 2014 10:56:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/general-solicitation-one-year-anniversary/RegulationGeneral SolicitationSECThe Metrics Required for Raising a Series A Roundhttps://equityzen.com/blog/metrics-required-for-series-a/Metrics Required for Raising a Series A Roundshriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 17 Sep 2014 10:57:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/metrics-required-for-series-a/FundraisingVenture CapitalFounderSeries AToo Much of a Good Thing: Side Effects of Equity Over Incentivizationhttps://equityzen.com/blog/side-effects-of-equity-over-incentivization/Analyzing the side effects of incentive over-exposrueatish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Wed, 03 Sep 2014 11:26:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/side-effects-of-equity-over-incentivization/ShareholderStartup CompensationUber's Growth Strategy: Jobs! (Interactive Graphic)https://equityzen.com/blog/uber-growth-strategy/Understanding Uber's growth strategyphil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Fri, 29 Aug 2014 10:59:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/uber-growth-strategy/UberInvestorStartup Compensation2014 H1: Tech IPO Reviewhttps://equityzen.com/blog/H1-2014-IPO-Review/Analysis of the US Tech IPO marketshriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:06:54 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/H1-2014-IPO-Review/IPOInvestorTech StockStartupEquityZen Visits DreamIt's Summer Class, Shares Tricks on Incentivizing Employees Effectivelyhttps://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-visits-dreamit-shares-tricks/EquityZen presents to DreamIt's Summer Class on equity compensation for startupsatish@equityzen.com (Atish Davda)Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:49:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-visits-dreamit-shares-tricks/DreamIt VenturesEquityZenStartup CompensationQuora Potpourrihttps://equityzen.com/blog/Quora-Answers-8-14-14/Potpourri of relevant questions the EquityZen team has answered on Quora regarding secondary markets for private shares, startups, startup compensation, venture capital, securities law, Python, and the Wire, among other things. shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Thu, 14 Aug 2014 11:00:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/Quora-Answers-8-14-14/ShareholderInvestorVenture CapitalQuoraEquityZen Now Accepts Investment From Tax-Advantaged Self-Directed IRAshttps://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-accepts-investments-from-self-directed-iras/EquityZen is proud to announce that it now accepts investments from tax-advantaged, self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:04:19 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-accepts-investments-from-self-directed-iras/EquityZenInvestorThe Startup Employee Bill of Rightshttps://equityzen.com/blog/startup-employee-bill-of-rights/Some startup industry heavyweights have launched a growing movement among employees to demand a new kind of employer concession: a “Startup Employee Equity Bill of Rights” to include standardized equity compensation.Jackson AlbertsThu, 10 Jul 2014 21:03:34 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/startup-employee-bill-of-rights/EmployeeStartup CompensationWill Angels Lose Their Wings?https://equityzen.com/blog/accredited-investor-standards-SEC-review/EquityZen explores what the SEC will be looking at when it revisits the accredited investor criteriashriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Wed, 02 Jul 2014 11:02:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/accredited-investor-standards-SEC-review/Venture CapitalAngel InvestorSECRegulationAccredited InvestorUnderstanding Equity Compensation and What it Means for Startup Employeeshttps://equityzen.com/blog/understanding-equity-compensation-for-startup-employees/<p>Dissecting equity compensation for startup employees by looking at different types of incentive compensation and tax considerations</p>shriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Fri, 27 Jun 2014 11:22:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/understanding-equity-compensation-for-startup-employees/Startup CompensationShareholderThe Lemonade Stand: How to Value Your Private Shareshttps://equityzen.com/blog/how-to-value-private-shares/<p>How to Value Your Private Shares</p>phil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Sat, 21 Jun 2014 11:20:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/how-to-value-private-shares/InvestorShareholderVenture CapitalEye on Washington: JOBS Act 2.0 in the Offing?https://equityzen.com/blog/jobs-act-2-in-the-offering/Understanding the future of the Jobs Actshriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Fri, 20 Jun 2014 11:18:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/jobs-act-2-in-the-offering/JOBS ActSECRegulationBehind the Scenes: EquityZen tackles "If I joined Uber After College"https://equityzen.com/blog/uber-employee-shareholder-value-analysis/Dissecting what Uber's recent valuation means for an employee who joined Uber after collegenat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Fri, 13 Jun 2014 21:00:15 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/uber-employee-shareholder-value-analysis/EmployeeUberShareholderStartup CompensationBehind the Scenes: EquityZen Tackles the Tumblr/Yahoo! Dealhttps://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-tackles-tumblr-yahoo-deal/Analysis of Tumblr's valuation relative to its user base and employee count throughout the yearsphil@equityzen.com (Phil Haslett)Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:09:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/equityzen-tackles-tumblr-yahoo-deal/TumblrYahooInvestorSo You're Leaving Your Startup Job...https://equityzen.com/blog/leaving-your-startup-job/Guide on how to leave your startup job: understanding your rights as a shareholder and employee, the documents you should have in your possession, and the time frame to act accordingly.nat.disston@equityzen.com (Nat Disston)Thu, 29 May 2014 11:07:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/leaving-your-startup-job/ShareholderEmployeeStartup CompensationThe Equity Documents You Should Always Have on Filehttps://equityzen.com/blog/key-equity-documents-to-keep-on-file/A list of the paperwork relating to an employee's equity compensation that should always be on fileshriram@equityzen.com (Shriram Bhashyam)Fri, 16 May 2014 11:11:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/key-equity-documents-to-keep-on-file/Startup CompensationShareholderEmployeeUnderstand These Points About the AMT Before Exercising Your Optionshttps://equityzen.com/blog/understand-amt-before-exercising-options/Tax pitfalls to watch out for when exercising your options.hello@equityzen.com (EquityZen)Fri, 09 May 2014 12:13:00 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/understand-amt-before-exercising-options/Alternative Minimum TaxStartup CompensationShareholderMaiden Lane's first AngelList Syndicate investment is.....https://equityzen.com/blog/maiden-lanes-first-angel-list-syndicate-investment/Maiden Lane announces its first AngelList Syndicate Investmentbryan.weis@equityzen.com (Bryan Weis)Mon, 05 May 2014 21:12:48 -0400https://equityzen.com/blog/maiden-lanes-first-angel-list-syndicate-investment/Maiden LaneInvestorVenture Capital5 Keys to Understanding RSUs Like Your 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